There are some misconceptions about frozen pipes. The leading misconception is that pipes only freeze in cold climates. In fact, pipes are more likely to freeze in warm climates where houses do not have adequate insulation to protect the pipes. I found this out the hard way.
Continue reading “What You Can Do When Jack Frost Comes and Freezes Your Pipes”
Growing up in the Lakes Region, in a small town whose population grew from 2,500 people in the winter to more than 40, 000 people in the summer, I had quite a few friends that were “summer people”. Most of these “summer people” had houses on or near the lake and I can distinctively remember the musty odor that would greet you at the door of their houses. Over the summer this odor would fade and be replaced by the smells of suntan lotion and barbecue chicken, but those first few weeks it was very distinct. At the time I had no idea what caused this odor that stung my nose when I visited my friends’ lake houses, but I now realize it was probably mold that had built up over their long absent winter.
Continue reading “Stop the Mold Monster In Its Tracks: How to Keep Your Vacation Home Mold Free During the Off Season”
As a child growing up in New Hampshire one of my favorite parts of winter was the beautiful icicles that would form on the gutters of my house. I was convinced that Jack Frost had left them just for me. Not only did I love the way they sparkled in the sun, but I would wait with great anticipation for them to fall off the roof so that I could have an icy treat. Little did I know then that they could be a sign of trouble to come. Not only could the larger ones fall and hurt someone, but they could be a precursor to ice damming on the roof. As a child you don’t think of all the dangers and damage that could be caused by those lovely prisms of ice, but as an adult and a home owner they are something to be feared.
What is an Ice Dam?
Continue reading “Icicles Can be a Sign of Danger! Ice Damming can Lead to Serious Damage!”